Peak Condition Update | Torreys Peak

Peak:	Torreys Peak
Route:	Emperor Couloir
Range:	Front
Posted By:	TJ Knecht
Date of Info:	5/20/2014
Date Posted:	5/22/2014

Details
Ascended Torreys via the standard route (South Slopes) and descended via the Emperor Couloir. Road was easily passable with 4wd up to the Stevens Gulch/Grizzly Gulch fork. Large snowdrifts on both roads immediately after fork. Intermittent snow on the Stevens Gulch road for the first mile after the fork. Continuous snow for the second mile up to the summer trailhead. We were able to skin from the summer trailhead up to the Grays/Torreys saddle, with the exception of a few steep sections where a good boot pack trail exists. Followed the boot pack trail up to Torreys summit. Did not use any traction devices, but there were a couple slick spots low on the saddle where it would have been nice to have some extra traction. Image #2 is looking up the saddle towards Torreys. Image #3 is looking back on Grays. We had planned to descend Dead Dog, but upon seeing all of the loose wet slide debris (see image #1), we chose the Emperor Couloir for a more northerly aspect. We were able to ski from the summit thanks to continuous snow into the couloir. Snow on the descent was starting to soften at 11:00am, making for good skiing conditions. Image #4 is looking back up the couloir. Able to ski almost back to the fork, with the exception of a couple stream crossings and short dirt sections. Lost: My gray and blue North Face softshell came unstrapped from my pack somewhere between the base of the couloir and the fork (see my post in the Lost and Found forum). If anyone is headed up this route and wouldn't mind keeping an eye out for it, I'd really appreciate it.

Details

Ascended Torreys via the standard route (South Slopes) and descended via the Emperor Couloir. Road was easily passable with 4wd up to the Stevens Gulch/Grizzly Gulch fork. Large snowdrifts on both roads immediately after fork. Intermittent snow on the Stevens Gulch road for the first mile after the fork. Continuous snow for the second mile up to the summer trailhead. We were able to skin from the summer trailhead up to the Grays/Torreys saddle, with the exception of a few steep sections where a good boot pack trail exists. Followed the boot pack trail up to Torreys summit. Did not use any traction devices, but there were a couple slick spots low on the saddle where it would have been nice to have some extra traction. Image #2 is looking up the saddle towards Torreys. Image #3 is looking back on Grays.
We had planned to descend Dead Dog, but upon seeing all of the loose wet slide debris (see image #1), we chose the Emperor Couloir for a more northerly aspect. We were able to ski from the summit thanks to continuous snow into the couloir. Snow on the descent was starting to soften at 11:00am, making for good skiing conditions. Image #4 is looking back up the couloir. Able to ski almost back to the fork, with the exception of a couple stream crossings and short dirt sections.

Lost: My gray and blue North Face softshell came unstrapped from my pack somewhere between the base of the couloir and the fork (see my post in the Lost and Found forum). If anyone is headed up this route and wouldn't mind keeping an eye out for it, I'd really appreciate it.

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